Vortex incursion, p.20
Vortex Incursion, page 20
“Who is still in a controller box,” Bethany commented.
“For now,” Escher added.
“You want the SADEs to give Samuel an avatar,” Stacey said thoughtfully. “What if Samuel wants the mobility, but he doesn’t want the assignment?”
It was Escher’s turn to laugh. “Samuel does covet the opportunity to be mobile,” Escher replied. “And I think he’ll love the assignment.”
“Why?” Bethany asked.
“Samuel developed as a protector,” Miranda replied. “His charges grew from one to four even while he was in danger. He’ll see that by monitoring Lisa he’ll be guarding the general citizenry.”
“Could he be corrupted by Lisa?” Stacey asked.
“Samuel has already dealt with the criminal elements of Naiad ... chairpersons, a councilor, judges, a hacker, and the underground,” Escher replied. “His commitment to protecting the TM partners only grew stronger. Lisa’s minding will be easy for Samuel. In fact, I think he’ll work at influencing Lisa.”
“Oh, she’ll love that,” Ceda remarked, chuckling.
“We’re achieving Naiad orbit,” Miranda said. “There’s no time like the present to inquire about the condition of your first piece of this intriguing puzzle. Be aware that you’ve a considerable number of moving parts.”
Escher nodded and on the group’s conference comm he linked with Samuel.
Escher sent.
Samuel requested.
Samuel sent.
Samuel ran scenarios to determine why this particular group was contacting him and telling him about Lisa’s plans.
When Samuel didn’t receive a comment, only one possible scenario achieved a high probability.
Samuel received the sounds of laughter, and his hopes of being mobile rose.
Escher sent.
The SADE located Nira on the Nyslara’s bridge.
Nira tilted her head up and gazed quizzically at the SADE. It was unnecessary for a protector to make such a request.
To Nira’s mind, Samuel receiving an avatar operated outside of normal outpost protocols. But she had to admit that Miranda was right. The portion of the fleet operating in this region couldn’t wait for the rest of the outpost’s ships. They had to make do with the resources at hand.
Miranda smiled.
Nira sent.
“A successful conference, I hope,” Lisa commented when her interrogators returned.
“That depends,” Escher replied. “How do you feel about a companion?”
“I’ve a competent administrative assistant,” Lisa pointed out.
“We’re familiar with Madeline,” Gat’r said, reminding Lisa that they were aware of her assistant.
“When and for how long would this individual be required to accompany me?” Lisa asked, intuiting the group’s intentions. When there was no reply, she said, “I see. All the time. I take it that this would be a SADE.”
“Correct,” Johann replied.
“I don’t see how a SADE can be an effective companion,” Lisa said, working to build her argument. “An outpost SADE, who is new to Naiad and the mining planets, would hardly be aware of the intricacies of our business practices and social norms.”
“You let us worry about whom we select,” Ceda stated firmly. “You’ll have our recommendation to the council only if you accept our condition. The SADE remains with you always.”
“Be aware, Lisa,” Stacey added. “If, at any time, he’s dismissed or excluded, we’ll withdraw our support for you and push for your incarceration.”
“In fact, I think that we’ll state that as a condition to the council,” Escher said.
“I’m sure that the council won’t want to jeopardize our support on your account,” Gat’r added, smiling brightly at Lisa.
“You’ve made your point. I’ll keep my companion close,” Lisa said, acquiescing. “However, it would seem immodest to assign me a male SADE. I hope a female is available.”
Bethany chuckled darkly. “Probably not, Lisa, but you’ll get used to him. SADEs don’t suffer from the issues of modesty that bewilder humans.”
Left with no choice, Lisa raised her hands in surrender and said, “I accept your condition, including a male SADE. Anything else?”
Without a word, mask-helmets slid into place, and the suited figures turned as one and slid out of the cabin.
“That’s the future of humankind,” Lisa muttered to herself.
Stacey sent.
The humans received a link.
Miranda received an immediate assent from each individual. Then she ended the link.
16: Samuel’s Avatar
After exiting the ovoid-sphere anomaly, the fleet had separated. The Tridents and the scout ship made for the Daimler system, to rejoin Captain D’Arcy’s ship.
The Nyslara and the Emergence took up stations in Naiad’s orbit.
Immediately, Tocknicka linked Juno and shared the thought.
Nira shared with the SADE and the sister the details that had been emerging about Lisa.
Nira had to remember that Tocknicka’s patriarch was Tacnock, who was a contemporary of her great-grandfather.
Nira sent.
While Nira spoke to Tocknicka and Juno, Miranda contacted Samuel.
Samuel sent.
Miranda received a multitude of links to comtech slate sites. Swiftly, she reviewed the majority of them.
DEs, as the Naiad youths called the SADEs, were featured prominently with the suited figures. In many cases, young peoples’ imaginations had soared and colorful descriptions characterized every individual. She was often referenced as magnificent, imposing, superb, and awe-inspiring.
Samuel volunteered.
The SADE’s kernel pulled up the memory of her first appearance in front of Alex.
Z had created Miranda to ride atop his kernel. Together, persona and kernel inhabited a voluptuous avatar draped in a long red gown. Alex’s wholehearted acceptance of her was a precious moment.
More than ever, Miranda was curious about how Samuel’s persona had developed. Z and she would need to investigate his history to understand if there was a better way to create SADEs.
Samuel received a huge number of visuals, which indicated the possible variations his avatar could take.
The following evening, the TM partners couldn’t wait for the last office worker to leave. They continually cautioned one another to act casually.
A traveler touched down in the dark, and Miranda and suited figures disregarded hatch steps and leapt to the surface.
The individuals made their way through the shuttleport and boarded a transport to the TM office.
Samuel handled security operations for Miranda, and the visitors soon walked through the TM office door, which Samuel locked behind them.
Not pausing to greet the partners, the visitors headed for the secret compartment in which Samuel resided, and the partners hurried behind them.
“Is there a problem?” Gemma inquired anxiously. Like the other partners, she expected to see an avatar on a cart or carried by the suited figures.
“Are we secure?” Escher asked when the group reached the back room.
“Yes,” Brendan replied. “There’s no one here but the four of us.”
At which point, the suited figures revealed themselves, and the partners stared at an avatar’s strange face. Then the suit peeled off, reformed, walked four paces, and crumpled to the floor.
“I thought that suit belonged to Johann Stegmeir,” Oscar said, staring at the suit piled at his feet. “Oh, I get it,” he suddenly exclaimed.
“A SADE and six suited figures enter and the exact same suits exit,” Simona added. “Truly clever.”
“The credit belongs to Ceda,” Escher said admiringly. “She volunteered the idea and her suit.”
“Except my suit didn’t fit the avatar. So, Johann contributed his,” Ceda finished.
“Don’t stare at the avatar,” Stacey warned. “You’ll get the wrong impression.”
Then Ceda dropped a piece of cloth over the avatar’s face.
The partners ducked their heads away from the avatar and focused on the instructions Miranda issued. The hidden panel was opened, and Miranda, who couldn’t fit in the narrow alcove, directed Brendan to couple one end of a thick cable to the controller.
Escher connected the other end to the avatar.
Miranda linked privately with the suited figures.
Simona was swift to reply, “Gemma does.”
Gemma was embarrassed by the admission, and she squeezed Simona’s hand in reassurance.
